The ‘IPL vs PSL controversy’ has taken a fresh turn after Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka withdrew from the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has warned of legal action against international players leaving the PSL to join the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of both tournaments.
Amid a wave of withdrawals from the Pakistan T20 cricket tournament, Shanaka pulled out of the Lahore Qalandars squad to join Rajasthan Royals in the IPL as a replacement for England’s injured Sam Curran.
Shanaka is the second player in recent days to leave a PSL franchise for the IPL, after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani exited his deal with Islamabad United following an approach from Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman.
As Dasun Shanaka is joining RR, enjoy his bashing to langda
Shaheen pic.twitter.com/oNf8Tp03g5— AdityaRRaj (@RR_for_LIFE) March 22, 2026
Muzarabani’s contract with Islamabad United for PSL 2026 was worth approximately PKR 11 million to 12.1 million (roughly ₹36-40 lakh) as per reports. However, he joined KKR as a replacement for Rahman whose contract was worth INR 9.20 crore.Â
However, following this move of the Shananka, Naqvi issued a warning stating, “We will take action against those players according to the rules.”
The PCB chairman brought the case of Corbin Bosch who was among the first players to withdraw from PSL to join IPL in 2025.Â
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“There was a case last year, too, and the same thing will happen this time. Clashing with the IPL is not an issue because if players are going there, we’re getting excellent players coming here as well. We could not afford to postpone the PSL because we have no other window all year,” Naqvi said as per ESPNcricinfo.Â
Bosch was a diamond pick for Peshawar Zalmi last time, but he made a late switch to play for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
The PSL has also seen several other withdrawals, including Gudakesh Motie, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ottneil Baartman, and Spencer Johnson, though most have attributed their exits to personal reasons.
The star players that are still in contract with PSL inlcudes the Australian stars like Steve Smith who is in Multan Sultans, Glenn Maxwell in Hyderabad Kingsmen, Marnus Labuschagne playing as the captain of Hyderabad Kingsmen and David Warner who plays for Karachi Kings.
The PSL is set to start on March 26, two days before the IPL kicks off across the border.
